U.S. Missions In Saudi Arabia Closed After Threat

8 August 2005 (RFE/RL) -- The United States has closed its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia today and on 9 August because of terrorist threats.

A U.S. statement said the embassy in Riyadh and the consulates in the Red Sea city of Jeddah and the eastern city of Dhahran are closed "in response to a threat against U.S. government buildings in the kingdom."

But Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman General Mansour al-Turki told reporters there has been no confirmed information about any imminent terrorist threat in the kingdom.

Last month, the United States warned its citizens in Saudi Arabia that militants were planning fresh attacks in the kingdom. It later banned military personnel from traveling around the kingdom.

Al-Qaeda-linked militants have waged a bombing campaign in the kingdom that has killed at least 91 foreign nationals and Saudi civilians since 2003.